Stroller for older child UPDATE!

[DisneyObsession]

I'm sorry if you took my reply as being judgemental of your choices, I wasn't.

I have seen the same things in WDW and understand what you are saying. Some over-tired parents take that out on their over-tired children. However, I am from the generation that you used strollers with young children and the older children walked. I just can't imagine an older child would be comfortable in a stroller meant for a smaller toddler.


As for the KUV, that is a nice stroller/wagon. I've not seen anything like it before. I hope it fits your needs.

 

[megan4777]

Thanks for calling about this. I e-mailed Disney a few hours ago, but knew it would take some time to get a response.

Now to go find one....

 

[CampbellScot]

My little sister was EXTREMELY tall for her age when she was little. (she is 5'11 now!) People always made comments to my mom about why she was doing this or that at "HER" age...my mom would point out that she was just two or three...She was the height of most five year olds when she was just 3 years old. Her daycare provider accidentally mixed her up with another child and put her in the 5-6 room and she called my mom one day saying that she was "concerned" about my little sister's reading skills or lack therof...as she hadn't even been to preschool yet I'm sure that had something to do with it! This sort of thing happened to my sister all the time. Especially since she was so verbal.

Just do what you need to do for your son. It doesn't matter what it may look like to others!

have fun on your trip!!!

 

[beth_cam]

I will probably pack a stroller when we go in december with my turning 7 and 8 year old. I dont want to always be fussing with them to hurry up. They do get tired and we will be going at a pace and schedule there little bodies aren't used to. They are used to being in school 6 hrs a day with 1 20 minute recess a day and one p.e. class a week. Even if they ran around the entire available after school time that would only be a few hours a day because by the time they do homework have dinner take baths etc there just isnt a lot of time left. Now compare that to expecting them to be on their feet 10 hours a day for a week straight at Disney. I'll pack the stroller (assuming I can still find it when the last time I saw it was after our trip last year where both my 5 and turning 7 used it some and was left in the room the last day so I could rent a double stroller for them) and have it on hand to save me $15 per day. I know they wont be in it often but when it gets 10 at night 2 hrs past their bedtime and we still have to fight the crowds to the car or busses it is a great thing to have for them as well as me.

 

[tjmw2727]

If your purchasing this just for WDW and its pricey I would think twice. There is a very good chance that when you get to the gates it will not be allowed. WDW is pretty strict about Wagons - and this does seem like a Wagon. I have been entering a theme park when a family has tried to enter with a wagon and it was not allowed. Even if a CM tells you its ok - that's no guarantee it will be allowed (unfortunately).

Here is the quote from the WDW website:
Are there any personal items I should not bring with me into the Theme Parks?

A. Items that you may not bring into the Theme Parks include, but are not limited to:

Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
Alcoholic beverages
Weapons of any kind
Folding chairs
Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
Pets (unless they are service animals)
In Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted.

Here is the link so you can verify - its the last question:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQThemeParkPage#q13

Personally, in your situation I would just budget a few $$ and rent its so easy, really. My dd's are 2 years apart as well and the price of renting by the time they were 4and 6 was well worth the convenience. Since we didn't need it at the resort there was no need to lug it on/off the bus tram boat. We would usually start the day without one and were able to hit all of one area of a park esp fantasyland without the hassle of parking and re-parking etc. By the end of the day if one or both were tired we would rent especially for an evening at Epcot or a long day at AK.

The rental strollers are very easy to push even with older kids, they are easy for the kids to hop in and out of and if it gets wet just wipe it down or you can trade it in for a dry one . If you do the length of stay you get a discount and skip the hassle of filling out the form and paying every day.

Again - I don't want to discourage you but at your kids ages its alot of $ to spend on a wagon/stroller you may not be able to use. It does look pretty interesting though.

HTH ~
TJ

 

[northriver]

I just wanted to reply that when my now 13 yr old DS was 6 he walked because there were no strollers with a high enough weight limit. Although if I remember correctly, I was always worn out before he was! Lost of options now fortunately for older/heavier kids. The disney strollers are awsome compared to those old metal clunkers LOL! Take advantage of letting you kids ride!

Thanks for posting about the KUV - sounds like a great option for alot of families.

 

[tadamom]

If your purchasing this just for WDW and its pricey I would think twice. There is a very good chance that when you get to the gates it will not be allowed. WDW is pretty strict about Wagons - and this does seem like a Wagon. I have been entering a theme park when a family has tried to enter with a wagon and it was not allowed. Even if a CM tells you its ok - that's no guarantee it will be allowed (unfortunately).

Ditto! I read on here somewhere about this happening. They called ahead about something like this and were told "yes", only to be told "no" by the CM at the gate. It's the same with rides - one may say they are tall enough and another say they are too short.

I probably wouldn't buy this if the sole purpose was for Disney. If there were other things that I could use it for maybe but I would have to think really hard about it.

Also, on the whole "he's to old for a stoller" thing, if I could find a stroller big enough for me to sit in and have someone else push me around for a little break through the day - I would soooooooooooo be in that stroller!!!!!!!!

 

[SueM in MN]

Here is the quote from the WDW website:
Are there any personal items I should not bring with me into the Theme Parks?

A. Items that you may not bring into the Theme Parks include, but are not limited to:

Items with wheels, such as wagons, skateboards, scooters, inline skates, shoes with built-in wheels, two-wheeled or three-wheeled conveyances, strollers larger than 36" x 52", suitcases, coolers, or backpacks with or without wheels larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (coolers required for medication may be stored in a locker or at Guest Relations), and any trailer-like object that is pushed or towed by an ECV wheelchair or stroller
Alcoholic beverages
Weapons of any kind
Folding chairs
Glass containers (excluding baby food jars and perfume bottles)
Pets (unless they are service animals)
In Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park (for the safety of the wildlife), balloons, straws and drink lids are not permitted.

Here is the link so you can verify - its the last question:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQThemeParkPage#q13

I have personally seen people stopped with wagons.

ABBF also rents wagons, but they specifically say on their websites that wagons are not allowed.
From what people have posted about emails to WDW before about wagons, it's not the lack of seatbelts or seats that make them not allow wagons, it's the fact that they are pulled behind you that makes them a hazard.

 

[lovemyguys]

I am sooo confused of what I want to do. On one hand I would be pretty mad if I get there and am told that I can not bring it in after I had already called and got an ok. But on the other hand I hate paying $108 to rent a stroller when I can buy one and keep it for an extra $40. Plus if I bring my own I have it for the times we are in DTD. Even if I rent I need to still bring a single stroller for the times that we are not at the parks and ds 4 is walking at the pace of a snail LOL. What to do, what to do. I am going to try out the one DH is bringing home and who knows, I could hate it and be back at square one looking for a double jogging stroller that they will both fit in.

Thanks for all the replies though! I will update on the quality of the stoller in a little bit.

 

[tjmw2727]

Good luck - have you looked into a sit n stand or a buggy board? What about a single umbrella esp if you already have one for the 4yo at DTD, the parks and and a rental for the 6yo at the parks?

As far as a jogging stroller just make sure it isn't too big as some of the larger ones esp those without a turning wheel aren't allowed either, acc'd to the FAQ they can't be larger than 36x52.

TJ

 

[disneyboundinne]

I don't think the poster who asked why the 6 year old would need a stroller was being judgmental - she was simply curious. I was too! There are many valid explanations, such as the one given by the OP, as to why an older child might need a stroller. However, as I'm sure everyone would admit, our country has a MAJOR problem with childhood obesity and exercise. Very few children get enough exercise today. Also, as one poster said, while it is true that there are many people who will point out that THEIR child walked and didn't need a stroller, there are also many people who feel the need to point out that THEIR child does get enough exercise but still needs a stroller. If someone wants to convince themselves or others of something, they usually have tons of justifications!

Finally, I know Disney is big and it is a lot of walking but it is not constant walking given all the shows, rides, eating, etc.... It's ok to be tired after a day at Disney!

 

[mytwotinks]

Can you push it too? I am thinking probably not because the wrong wheels would turn.

I really think that you are risking a big pain in the rear by taking this. You could probably get away with it if you could push it while you were entering the park. I bet if you walk up pulling it, they would make you show them that you could push it before they would let you in.

Good luck!

 

[SueM in MN]

I am sooo confused of what I want to do. On one hand I would be pretty mad if I get there and am told that I can not bring it in after I had already called and got an ok. But on the other hand I hate paying $108 to rent a stroller when I can buy one and keep it for an extra $40. Plus if I bring my own I have it for the times we are in DTD. Even if I rent I need to still bring a single stroller for the times that we are not at the parks and ds 4 is walking at the pace of a snail LOL. What to do, what to do. I am going to try out the one DH is bringing home and who knows, I could hate it and be back at square one looking for a double jogging stroller that they will both fit in.

Thanks for all the replies though! I will update on the quality of the stoller in a little bit.

If they don't let you in with it, from what I have read, they will store it in the stroller rental area and give you a rental stroller in its place.

 

[CampbellScot]

I wonder if people realize that they are walking up to 15 miles in one day at Disneyworld. (We wore a pedometer last time) My step daughter plays elite level pee wee softball and she is on a year around swim team. The Florida heat STILL zaps her every single time. After about two hours she is dragging.

Lack of exercise in children today is definitely a problem in America but I wouldn't necessarily start tackling that issue while at WDW. It needs to be a lifestyle.

To the OP...did you ask to speak to a supervisor and make your concerns about being turned away at the gate clear?

that would be SO infuriating to be told "sure, it's great" to be turned away once you arrive...but we all know that at Disney you can get 85,000 completely different answers to one question in the span of five minutes!!!

 

[lovemyguys]

If they don't let you in with it, from what I have read, they will store it in the stroller rental area and give you a rental stroller in its place.

Thank you for pointing that out! Like I said in a previous post we would still use it for long days at the zoo, amusement parks around us this summer, etc... so it would get some (even if limited) use after disney. Also, then if we can not bring it in the parks it is still there for DTD and any other time we may need it. DH is NOT a stroller addict like I am and he says that it is VERY cool. Now that says something. Can not wait to see it.

 

[lovemyguys]

Lack of exercise in children today is definitely a problem in American but I wouldn't necessarily start tackling that issue while at WDW. It needs to be a lifestyle.

 

[pperfectmom]

Does anyone have a link so I can see this wagon? It sounds pretty cool. You all are making me rethink my plan to have DD(will be 4) walk the whole trip. I have just assumed she probably would. I am fairly certain I can walk 15 miles in one day with no problem and the kids run circles around me on a day to day basis, so we might still be okay.

 

[shelly3girls]

Honestly I would not expect a 4 year old to walk all day. I like some type of stroller especially to keep track of my DD in the crowds. We have always brought a stroller or rented. I think my oldest DD was able to walk the full day at around age 6 but she is in amazing shape (swimmer and figure skater).

 

[northriver]

OP, the other consideration is that since you kids are older and will outgrow this sooner than later - it will certainly have some resale value when you are done with it. Not only are you saving the money now on stroller rental now, but if you can resell this thing in a year or two for lets say even only 30% of what you paid - you have come out way ahead. I agree that you should call again and ask to speak to a supervisor. I still think that this type of thing is more of a stroller than a wagon, I hope you won't have any trouble. You just need to act confident at the gates like you KNOW you can take it in and if you get quesitoned, site the name and date of the supervisor you spoke with getting permission. And if that still doesn't work - insist on a rental! I'm off to find a picture of this thing!

 

[northriver]

Here is a link for those who want to see the Kid Utility Vehicle:

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900002&e=storeproduct&pid=35970